Steve McQueen's classic Ferrari tipped to sell for £5.6million: The fascinating story behind the King of Cool’s 1967 275 GTB that had its roof CHOPPED OFF and has been painted three different colours

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Any classic Ferrari is worth an astounding amount of money. But this one that was originally delivered to the King of Cool Steve McQueen is set to change hands for a small - or not so small - fortune later this year.

The acting icon's 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 will hit the auction block in Monterey, California in August, with experts expecting it to sell for a whopping £4million to £5.6million ($5m to $7m).

But that's less than the winning bid for the same car nine years ago, which remains a record today. 

Registration 'WCT 710' was sold at the same motoring event in 2014 for £6million, having just had thousands spent to restore it to how it was when McQueen drove it, after a previous owner had chopped the roof off.

And it was reportedly a wealthy British collector who bought the car last time it went to the highest bidder...

The coolest car going to auction in 2023? This 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 was delivered new to none other than The King of Cool himself, Steve McQueen. It has been described by classic car experts as 'one of the most famous, most desirable, most irreplaceable collectors cars in the world'

The car was delivered to Hollywood in 1967. McQueen, who was a huge petrolhead and raced on both two and four wheels, made his own modifications to the motor

The actor reportedly bought the stunning Ferrari coupe while filming for one of his most iconic movie roles as Lt. Frank Bullitt in 1968 cult classic, Bullitt

Supplied new to Hollywood, McQueen purchased the gorgeous two-door Ferrari coupe while filming one of his biggest movies, Bullitt, which was released a year later in 1968. The GTB/4 was reportedly delivered to the set.

It has been described by classic car experts as 'one of the most famous, most desirable, most irreplaceable collectors cars in the world'. 

It originally left the Maranello factory painted silver, but The Cincinnati Kid actor decided to re-spray the car red and have it fitted with the wheels from his Ferrari NART Spyder, which he had previously crashed.

The King of Cool kept the 275 GTB/4 for more than four years before he sold it to fellow actor Guy Williams, who famously starred in fifties and sixties TV series Zorro and Lost in Space. 

This is what the Ferrari looked like when it was delivered to McQueen new in 1967. It left the Maranello factory painted silver

The Cincinnati Kid actor decided to re-spray the car red and have it fitted with the wheels from his Ferrari NART Spyder, which he had previously crashed

Here's how the stunning classic Ferrari looks now ahead of going to the block: McQueen kept the 275 GTB/4 for more than four years before he sold it to fellow actor Guy Williams, who starred in fifties and sixties TV series Zorro and Lost in Space

The Ferrari 275 GTB/4 is considered one of the most desirable - and collectible - models the Italian marque has ever produced. RM Sotheby's will offer it to the highest bidder in California in August and it is expected to sell for between £4m- £5.6m

RM Sotheby's - which will be responsible for finding the Ferrari's new owner in August - says the car had undergone an extensive restoration between the years of 2010 and 2013, to return it to McQueen's exacting specification. 

And it was no small job, with the refurbishment carried out by Ferrari's classic department at a six-figure sum.

That's because the in-house Italian team had to reverse a major modification made by one former owner.

They had - controversially - decided to change the look of the car by having the roof chopped off to transform the 275 from a coupe (Berlinetta) into a convertible (Spyder).

It was later resprayed yellow and then back to its original silver by successive keepers before it was bought in 2011 by Australian racing star Vern Schuppan.

Schuppan, a former Le Mans winner, commissioned Ferrari Classiche to return the car to exactly how it looked when McQueen owned it - reverting it back to a red hard top, as it remains today.

The 275 GTB/4 in 2010 had to be transformed back to original owner Steve McQueen's personal spec after a former keeper spent thousands having the roof chopped off to convert it into a spyder. Another keeper then had it sprayed yellow

Former Australian racing star - and Le Mans winner - Vern Schuppan (pictured). He bought the Ferrari (which had then been painted silver) in 2011. He commissioned Ferrari Classiche to return the car to how it looked when McQueen owned it

Ferrari Classiche - the Italian marque's in-house classic car specialist department - was commissioned between 2010 to 2013 to reverse the changes made to the car by previous owners

These images show the Ferrari specialist department having to revert the car back to a hard-top coupe from a roofless spyder

Here, the car is seen during the restoration with the coupe roof reinstalled and the car ready to be painted red, which was the colour McQueen had wanted it

The 165mph classic Ferrari was last sold on behalf of Schuppan in August 2014 by RM Auctions (now RM Sotheby's) during Monterey Car Week.

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REVEALED: The movies, A-listers and Royals who have the most clout when it comes to car values. The Ford Mustang driven by Steve McQueen in Bullitt (left), Paul Newman (middle) and Princess Diana (right) all top their respective categories. See the full results below

> Read the full Power List report

Bidding opened at $4million but eventually ended with a final price - including auction premium - of $10.1 million. 

In August 2014, the exchange rate worked that out to £6million - today after the pound's decline against the dollar it would be £8.1million.

That set a new record for a 275 GTB/4, which remains today. At the time of publishing, it is the 53rd most expensive car to ever sell at auction. 

While unconfirmed, it is thought the Ferrari was sold to a very wealthy British car collector, who was bidding from the UK over the telephone. 

For this reason, Chris Evans was ruled out of the reckoning, with the television presenter and radio DJ attending Monterey Car Week in person. 

Incredibly, the winning bid was four times what a Ferrari 275 GTB/4's value was at the time - though that's without The Great Escape star's name on the log book.

Auctioneer Max Girardo said during the 2014 sale that the Steve McQueen factor was 'simply immeasurable', adding: 'There is nothing better to spend your money on than a Steve McQueen Ferrari.'

Having bee returned to 'McQueen specification' in 2013, the car was sold at auction a year later for £6million ($10.1 million) including fees. That remains the record for this car and makes it the 53rd most expensive motor vehicle ever sold at auction

The Ferrari was last sold in 2014 at a RM Auctions sale in California. This is where it will return some nine years later to find its next owner

Bidding opened at $4million but eventually ended with a final price - including auction premium - of $10.1 million, which at the exchange rate in August 2014 worked out at £6million

While unconfirmed, it is thought the Ferrari was sold to a very wealthy British car collector, who was bidding from the UK over the telephone. For this reason, Chris Evans was ruled out as being the buyer, with the television presenter and radio DJ in Monterey at the time

Registration 'WCT 710' was exhibited in Ferrari's Maranello museum (where it is pictured here) during Schuppan's ownership

With a huge film star on the log book and an extensive history file, this Ferrari ticks all the boxes when it comes to collectability.

The car is one of the desirable late-production examples of the 275 GTB/4 with the long-nose body configuration. 

Under the bonnet is the original 3.3-litre V12 engine, which in 1967 developed a claimed 300bhp.

From a standing start, Ferrari said it could hit 60mph in 6.5 seconds before reaching a top speed of 165mph. 

The car is one of the desirable late-production examples of the 275 GTB/4 with the long-nose body configuration. Under the bonnet is the original 3.3-litre V12 engine, which in 1967 developed a claimed 300bhp

Hagerty, which specialises in classic car valuations, says a 'concours' (meaning display-ready) 275 GTB should be worth £5million on today's market. Let's wait and see what the 'McQueen effect' will have on the sale price in the summer

With a huge film star on the log book and an extensive history file, this Ferrari ticks all the boxes when it comes to collectability

The last time this car was sold at auction in 2014 it went for four times what a Ferrari 275 GTB/4's value was at the time

Registration 'WCT 710' has been exhibited in Ferrari's Maranello museum as well as appearing at the Villa d'Este Concorso d'Eleganza event. It has also been the subject of numerous feature magazine articles.

It is sold with an extensive history file, Ferrari Classiche certification and even its original tool kit. 

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> Read about all 14 of the desirable classic cars being sold by one private owner in Sweden 

The car will be the feature lot of RM Sotheby's sale held between 18 and 19 August, with the auction house saying it 'presents a unique opportunity to own an exceptional example of an iconic Ferrari GT with full Ferrari endorsement and unsurpassed Hollywood history'.

Hagerty, which specialises in classic car insurance and valuations, says a 'concours' (meaning display standard) 1967 275 GTB should be worth £5million on today's market. Let's wait and see what the 'McQueen effect' will have on the sale price in the summer.

According to a report from the insurer a year ago, Steve McQueen ranked fourth overall in its 'Power List' of A-listers - including celebrities, actors and Royalty - who have the biggest impact on classic car values.

RM Sotheby's has also confirmed a collection of six cars from a private collector will also be sold at the same auction, with the star model being a 1938 BMW 328 'Special Competition' Roadster, one of only three supplied to the German national racing team, and considered to be one of the most historically important BMW racing cars. 

It has also been part of the same family ownership for 52 years, and is estimated to sell for £1.7m to £2.7m ($1.9m to $2.9m).

Gord Duff, global head of Auctions, RM Sotheby's, said: 'We're thrilled to announce the former Steve McQueen 1967 Ferrari 275 GTB/4 as our first major consignment, a perfect car to kickstart the coming lineup. 

'But that's just the beginning, as we've also secured a private collection of exceptional cars.'

The car will be the feature lot of RM Sotheby's sale held between 18 and 19 August, with the auction house saying it 'presents a unique opportunity to own an exceptional example of an iconic Ferrari GT with full Ferrari endorsement and unsurpassed Hollywood history'

The super-collectible Ferrari will appeal to classic car enthusiasts and fans of The King of Cool alike. It also comes with Ferrari Classiche certification of all the work carried out on it...which is extensive

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As well as being sold with a full history file, the Ferrari also retains its original tool kit, as you can see here in the boot of the car

According to Hagerty's Power List, Steve McQueen ranks fourth overall for A-listers whose name on a logbook have the biggest impact on a classic car's value